’60’s

George Palovich (Ed ’60) has spent the past 25 years in Arizona and has worked at West Valley Art Museum on the west side of Phoenix Valley. His time with the museum, on a volunteer basis and as an employee, spans nearly 20 of those years. Even with the museum losing its building, he was able to continue volunteering for two years when the City of Peoria allowed the collection to be stored and even provided gallery space. Palovich retired from the museum to work on his art, creating several series of paintings and ceramics. In 2015, he was asked to return to the museum to help make changes, update the website, and create new programs. The summer show “Dress and Design in Latin America,” is the largest he has attempted as curator in the city hall space. The exhibit contains many works from the museum collection, but also from two collector friends, Dr. Vicki Berger and Dr. Rebecca Akins, who travel extensively throughout Central and South America. Over the years, the museum brought in many national touring exhibits like “Art and the Animal” and the “National Watercolor Traveling Exhibit.” West Valley Art Museum also provides support for local artists and artist groups by exhibiting their works. The gallery has held concerts, lectures, classes, and even housed a professional theater for a couple of years.

**Mary Pat (Carroll) Balthaser (Ed ’61, Med ’78) and Don Balthaser (former human resource director at UT for 22 years) have a UT license plate reading WE 4 UT. Mary Pat and Don are large Rockets’ supporters and have had ties to the University for more than 50 years.

’70’s

Robert J. Bahret (Law ’79) has joined The Expert Network, an invitation-only service for distinguished professionals. Bahret has been chosen as a distinguished lawyer based on peer reviews and ratings, dozens of recognitions, and accomplishments achieved throughout his career. He is the founder and managing partner of Bahret & Associates Co., L.P.A., located in Holland, Ohio.

**Dennis Parish (Ed ’72, Law ’81) was reappointed to the Wood County, Ohio Park District Board of Commissioners for a three-year term. Parish is currently an adjunct professor at UT in the College of Law.

Jack G. Fynes (Law ’77) was selected for inclusion in 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers, an annual listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Fynes is employed in the Toledo law office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP.

’80’s

Dr. Daniel C. Mills (RES ’88) is the new president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. “Even now, 28 years into my career as a plastic surgeon, the primary skill I developed under the tutelage of the phenomenal professors while at UT was research,” Dr. Mills said. “It’s a skill I still utilize today on a daily basis, even when it comes to seemingly mundane activities like assessing which surgical tools to employ in my operating room. Research is critical. Having the ability to thoroughly examine, assess, and raise questions about any situation, from a patient’s health to their potential as a surgical candidate, or new technical, new procedures, and new tools, is truly the most essential skill for success. Ultimately, all of my research from the mundane to the scientific and clinical lead to the most important outcome of all, patient safety.”

Spiros Cocoves (Law ’85) was recognized by the Maumee Valley Criminal Defense Lawyers Association with the inaugural Liberty and Justice Award for his contributions, accomplishments, and lasting impact on liberty and justice within the criminal defense profession.

Janis E. Susalla Foley (Law ’86) was selected for inclusion in 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers, an annual listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Foley is employed in the Toledo law office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP.

John Elchert (Ed ’80) is the new publisher of The Daily Telegram in Adrian, Mich. Elchert has 34 years of experience in the news industry, most recently as publisher of the Mankato, Minn. Free Press.

Brad Murtiff (Bus ’87) is now the president and CEO of First Federal Community Bank in Bucyrus, Ohio. Murtiff is also president of the Bucyrus City Schools Board of Education and has also coached at various levels of Bucyrus High School for baseball, basketball, and football.

Diane Scaife (NRS ’85) joined the staff at Gastroenterology Associates, P.A., in Hickory, N.C. as a licensed adult certified nurse practitioner. Scaife began her career as a registered nurse at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, working in critical care, then later served there as a certified nurse practitioner for trauma patients.

Neema M. Bell (Law ’86) was selected for inclusion in 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers, an annual listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Bell is employed in the Toledo law office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP.

Denise M. Hasbrook (A/S ’81, Law ’84) was elected as partner-in-charge of Toledo and partner, Labor & Employment Practice Group of Roetzel, a full-service law firm that provides comprehensive legal services of national and international corporations, closely held and family-run businesses, institutions, organizations, and individuals.

’90’s

Cheree L. Thomas (UTCTC ’97, Univ Coll ’05, MLLSS ’15) has been hired to fill the leadership post of the Douglass Community Association as their new executive director. She will oversee a staff of 12 as they work to provide behavioral health, educational, and recreation programming for youngsters, adults, and families in the Northside community of Kalamazoo, Mich.

Jason Pagnard (Eng ’99) was announced as an owner of Burgess & Niple, a firm located in Phoenix, Ariz., that has lead the development of infrastructure in rural and urban regions. Pagnard is a founding member of the Phoenix Sonoran Section of the American Society of Highway Engineers and is active in the American Council of Engineering Companies.

’00’s

Jacqueline Simon Federico (A/S ’02) is using her health experiences to start a non-profit to give back to sick children in the hospital. Federico started Joyful Smiles Thru Faith in 2015 as a way to bring joy to many children in the NW Ohio area. The mission is to provide Kare packages filled with activities to sick children in Toledo Children’s Hospital. Learn more here.

Dr. Andrew Assenmacher (MED ’09) joined the staff at ProMedica as an orthopedic surgeon. He is accepting new patients at his office, ProMedica Physicians Orthopedic Surgery, located in Toledo.

Rebecca E. Shope (Law ’08) was selected as a 2017 Ohio Rising Star by Super Lawyers. To be eligible for this distinction, a candidate must be either age 40 or under, or in practice for 10 years or less. Shope is employed in the Toledo law office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP.

Nick Hammond (Law ’09, MBA ’09) is the new manager of business process and risk management at GEM Energy, of the Rudolph Libbe Group. Hammond will manage contracts and business process development, in addition to providing support for GEM Energy’s solar project management team. GEM Energy, located in Walbridge, Ohio, provides comprehensive services and technologies to improve customer business performance and reduce operating costs.

Sharetta Smith (A/S ’08) was appointed as the City of Lima’s new chief of staff. Smith will handle administrative duties for the Ohio city as well as steering projects as needed.

Cheri A. Budzynski (Law ’07) was selected as a 2017 Ohio Rising Star by Super Lawyers. To be eligible for this distinction, a candidate must be either age 40 or under, or in practice for 10 years or less. Budzynski is employed in the Toledo law office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP.

’10’s

Jason Steele (Bus ’12) was promoted to construction manager for the Bowling Green Model Center of Wayne Homes, an Ohio-based custom home builder that specializes in on-your-lot homes. Steele began working at Wayne Homes in 2012 as a field manager for the Bowling Green office.

Patrick Richardson (Bus ’15) was added to the marketing staff of Kripke Enterprises Inc., a nonferrous metal brokerage based in Toledo.

Dr. Andrew Wassef (RES ’12) has been named the new medical director of MemorialCare Joint Replacement Center at Long Beach Memorial, located in Long Beach, Calif. Wassef is board-certified and fellowship trained in joint replacement. He specializes in hip and knee replacements, robotic-assisted replacement surgery and complex joint reconstruction, including revisions of failed total joints.

Eric Benington (MBA ’11) was selected as a member of the Perrysburg, Ohio, school board. Benington is the chief financial officer of Rudolph Libbe Company Inc. and was chosen unanimously to fill the vacant seat. He has also been treasurer for Citizens of Perrysburg Schools and Perrysburg Orchestra Boosters, and also served on the district’s Strategic Facilities Committee. He teaches annual Junior Achievement curriculum at Fort Meigs elementary, among other volunteer activities.

Sarah Souvanarath (Bus ’13) was promoted to customer service specialist at Kent Elastomer Product Inc., located in Kent, Ohio, an EPA award-winning U.S. manufacturer and distributor of elastomer and latex tubing for the medical, dental, food, sports and leisure, and other industries. Souvanarath began working for Kent Elastomer Products in 2014, where she was responsible for tracking and logging daily production, managing efficiency, and assuring high FDA standards, as well as assembling components into medical products.

Kay-Lynne Schaller (MEd ’14) was honored by the Ohio Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences with the 2016 Teacher of the Year Award. Schaller, Penta instructor of Family and Consumer Science at Anthony Wayne Junior High, was recognized for providing outstanding career and technical education programs for youth. She has worked for Penta as a satellite instructor since 2007.

Births and Marriages

Valarie Christine Beck (Ed ’11) and Lucas David Johnson were married on June 18 at The Chapel in Sandusky, Ohio. Valarie is employed as a developmental specialist with the Huron County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Early Childhood Services. Lucas is a conductor with Norfolk Southern Lake Division.

Katie Jo Petty (Ed ’14) and Jared James Brandewie wed on November 12 in the St. Remy Catholic Church in Russia, Ohio. Katie is employed by the Council on Rural Services as a preschool teacher and Jared is employed by Honda of America EGA as a mechanical technician.

Marissa Espen (NRS ’13) and Kevin Lowe (NRS ’13) were married on May 19 in Negril, Jamaica. Marissa works for St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in the pediatrics and obstetrics units and Kevin works in the ICU at Royal Oak Beaumont. The couple met their freshman year at UT and they now reside in Waterford, Mich.

Jacqueline Marie Cobb (A/S ’10) and Bradley Wayne Rush exchanged vows on April 15 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Toledo. Jacqueline is employed as an administrative assistant with Vanguard in Malvern, Pa. and Bradley is a product engineer with Spitz Inc. in Chadds Ford, Pa.

Douglas Selvey (Ed ’08) and Kimberly Replogle were married on December 17 in the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Newport, Ohio. Douglas is employed by Wapakoneta High School as assistant principal and Kimberly is a Spanish teacher and also the head varsity volleyball coach at Wapakoneta High School.

Stephanie Pavilonis (HSHS ’09) and Bryce Henchar wed on September 3 at St. Helen Church in Newbury, Ohio. Stephanie is a registered nurse for University Hospitals of Cleveland and Bryce is a senior field examiner for RG Barber Consultants in Beachwood, Ohio.

Death Notices

Faculty, staff & friends

Dr. John H. Coleman, Potomac Falls, Va. at 88. He was a clinical associate professor of family medicine from 1972 to 2006 and an area physician for more than 50 years.

Dr. Arnold A. Johanson, Clearwater, Fla. at 92. He joined the Department of Mathematics as an associate professor in 1962 and was promoted to professor in 1968. He retired in 1987 and was named professor emeritus. Johanson also wrote a book, “Principia Practica: The Logic of Practice” (2002).

Ralph P. Wymer, Tiffin, Ohio at 82. He was a member of the Satellites Auxiliary.

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